This week at the Capitol—Start of the legislative session
By Kyle D. Berndt | January 17, 2025 | All members
The Minnesota Legislature gaveled in for its 2025–26 two-year session on Tuesday, January 14. The Minnesota Senate gaveled in at a 33-33 tie as they wait for a special election to replace Senator Kari Dziedzic on January 28, 2025. The democrats and republicans have reached a co-governance agreement for the start of legislative session.
The Minnesota House too gaveled in under contest. The House republicans were at the Capitol while the democrats stayed away under protest. As the Secretary of State started the 2025 Legislative Session as the presiding office, he adjourned the floor session after declaring it had not met quorum. Immediately after leaving the rostrum the republicans had their eldest representative take the position and continue the floor session—claiming they met the quorum requirement. The floor session then went on to elect Representative Lisa Demuth (R–Cold Spring) as Speaker of the Minnesota House.
Get informed
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Care Providers of Minnesota held our Region-Palooza webinar on the new legislature and our legislative agenda.
View the members-only recording here.
Take action
Get in touch with your legislators and invite them in for a visit. It’s always a good idea to have them tour and learn more about the services you provide. If you want Care Providers of Minnesota staff to help, contact Charlie Peterson or Kyle Berndt at the Association office.
Quick overview of the legislative session ahead
- Current state of play: The Minnesota legislature has provided a lot of fireworks in only the first few days of session: the constitutional crisis in the Minnesota House will not last and will soon be a memory of another unprecedented time in our lives; the Minnesota Senate has been proceeding with more decorum and a co-governance agreement; that agreement is in place until Senator Dziedzic’s seat has been filled and/or until after Senator Mitchells burglary case is considered in court
- The big picture: Any bill passed in the House will require 68 votes which means at least one person from the other party; gills in the Senate will require 34 votes, currently one from the other party; after reestablishing 67 senators any majority legislator can wield extraordinary power to join the minority and stop legislation
- Governor’s budget: The governor’s budget will be released on Thursday, January 16, 2025
- Reminder: The Minnesota Management and Budget has forecasted a modest $616 million budget surplus in the 2026-27 budget and a deficit of $5.76 billion in the 2028-29 budget
- Who we're watching:
- Eight Senate DFL legislators have launched a Blue Dog Coalition, from their statement, “The Minnesota Senate Blue Dog Coalition stands for pragmatic, reasonable, and balanced policies that reflect the values of all Minnesotans. We are committed to problem-solving, collaboration, and the pursuit of fiscally responsible policies that support working families, small businesses, and communities in every corner of our state.”
- House republicans continue to consider not allowing Representative Tabke from being seated after being declared the winner in court after twenty ballots went missing in an election won by 14 votes
- Democrats and republicans have not worked together over the previous two years; with the loss of long-serving legislators in recent elections who had a history of working across the aisle, will legislators be able to navigate a bipartisan budget and policy agenda?
- The Minnesota Senate starts the session with a co-governance agreement; it may provide early insight into how a long-term tied Minnesota House could operate—or not
- Governor Tim Walz returns from his run for vice president and considers what is next for him
- Government shutdown: I am feeling less optimistic today that the legislature will conclude with a funded government by May 19th—to avoid a state government shutdown, the legislators and governor must pass a budget or a “lights on” bill on or before June 30th
- What to expect: Legislation will be on the slow track this year, expect a lot of public hearings with very little meaningful action; at the end of session, the leadership of the House, Senate, and governor will make backroom deals and public input will be limited
Don’t forget to catch the weekly
Inside Scoop, available Friday afternoons, to get the latest update on what has happened this week at the Capitol!
Kyle D. Berndt | Senior Director of Advocacy |
kberndt@careproviders.org | 952-851-2498